"You two stay here for now. I will come back to pick you up as soon as the war is over." Namikaze Minato arranged Kakashi and Rin inside a hidden cave nestled within a dense copse of trees, his voice steady but tinged with concern as he gave his final instructions.
"Yeah…" Kakashi's voice was low, his expression clouded with a distant sadness. The death of Uchiha Obito had left an indelible mark on him, the loss weighing heavily on his spirit.
Minato sighed quietly, knowing well that Kakashi was trapped in a psychological cage. Whether he could break free from the shadow cast by Obito's death wasn't something that could be resolved by words alone — it depended entirely on Kakashi's own resolve.
Asahi watched Kakashi with a pang of regret. Kakashi was the rival he had long wished to surpass. Though Asahi had once defeated Kakashi during their time at the Ninja Academy through tactical wit, he was fully aware that there remained a gap between their true strengths.
Since graduation, Asahi had trained relentlessly. He believed he had eclipsed Kakashi in many areas, yet the real test had never come. Kakashi had mastered the initial stage of Raikiri, the Chidori, a technique whose power and precision were unparalleled. Asahi could only wonder what the outcome of a real battle between them would be.
But now, watching Kakashi's fatigued form and noting the heavy toll the Sharingan exacted on him, Asahi felt a bitter certainty settle in.
The Sharingan was a double-edged sword — a great power, but an immense burden. It drained Kakashi's chakra significantly, often leaving him unconscious after battle, as was well documented in the original work.
Moreover, the losses Kakashi endured — the deaths of Obito and later Rin, followed by Minato and Kushina — had shaken him deeply, leaving wounds that no jutsu could heal. His prolonged grief had stagnated his growth, freezing him in a shadowed state.
In the original timeline, Kakashi's strength was indeed limited, despite his reputation as a genius. The war was a factor, yes, but these personal tragedies were the crucial reasons for his stalled development.
Everything Kakashi faced was a string of cruel fate — his father's death inflicted by the village, the orchestrated deaths of Obito and Rin planned by Uchiha Madara, and the death of his teacher Minato and his wife Kushina by the hands of Obito. His early life was a series of hardships few could endure.
It wasn't until Konoha suffered devastating losses among its top ninja that Kakashi was thrust into the spotlight as the Sixth Hokage. By the end of the original saga, Kakashi had grown into a powerful hero who saved the ninja world and finally found peace in his later years, helped along by Naruto's efforts to reshape the shinobi world.
'If the future continues on this path, the endings for everyone will surely differ.' Asahi thought grimly.
"Let's go, Asahi!" Minato's voice cut through the swirling thoughts.
Asahi's gaze cleared, his resolve hardening. He did not want to share Kakashi's tragic fate, and the only way to prevent it was to grow stronger — unyieldingly strong.
Currently, Asahi was at the brink of severing ties with Orochimaru's shadow, uncertain if Shimura Danzo's machinations in Konoha would target him next. The dangers were all too real.
Before turning to follow Minato, Asahi stole a glance at Kakashi and silently vowed, 'Before any conspiracy unfolds, I must gain the strength to face everything head-on.'
"Okay! Let's move!" Asahi replied resolutely.
A sudden whoosh sliced through the air as the scenery around them blurred and shifted. In the blink of an eye, Asahi and Minato appeared beside Jiraiya, who was in the thick of battle.
Before Asahi could gather his bearings, Minato unleashed a Rasengan, striking a Jōnin who was closing in on Jiraiya and knocking him aside with a forceful blast.
"Asahi, go to the rear and treat the injured!" Minato commanded without hesitation.
Asahi's eyes flashed with determination as he shook his head sharply. "No way! In this war, a powerful ninja's role far outweighs that of a medical ninja. I am no longer weak. Besides, Tsunade-sensei has already arrived on the front lines. So sorry, Minato-senpai!"
Without waiting for a reply, Asahi slipped through the gap created by Minato's assault, his movements swift and assured. These were Jōnin-class ninjas — the elite — and Asahi knew that lingering here would only burden Jiraiya and Minato further.
Suddenly, a figure materialized right in front of him — an Iwagakure Jōnin blocking his path, kunai poised, aimed straight at Asahi's throat.
'Underestimating me, huh?'
Anyone who dared close the distance with Asahi paid the price — even Jōnin-class foes were no match.
With no time to dodge, Asahi hardened his skin using the Earth-style ∙ Hardening Technique, absorbing the kunai's sting with a grunt.
His right fist shot forward in a thunderous blow, delivering a Super Strength Fist to the Jōnin's chest. The impact sent the enemy flying backwards with a violent thud, crashing into the earth and leaving a deep crater beneath him.
The world of ninjas was notoriously biased. Most wielded formidable offensive ninjutsu, but their physical endurance was often barely above average.
This is why defensive ninjutsu caused so many headaches — because raw physical resilience was rare. Even Minato, if struck by Asahi's punch, would be gravely injured.
Of course, in a one-on-one duel, no matter how much Asahi exhausted himself, he couldn't hope to land a hit on Minato. The Fourth Hokage's speed and reflexes were legendary.
The display of raw power immediately drew the attention of nearby shinobi. Some mistook Asahi for Tsunade due to his confident aura and rapid movement, but their hopes were dashed when they saw he was merely a young teen.
Asahi's single punch to down a Jōnin didn't fill him with pride. If the Jōnin hadn't underestimated him and chosen close combat, he wouldn't have perished so easily.
While others stood stunned, Asahi swiftly retreated, aware of the dangers of lingering. He spotted a lower-ranked Iwagakure ninja nearby and struck him down with another precise punch.
To ensure his survival, Asahi fought the Iwa ninjas while secretly placing Flying Thunder God Seals at intervals, ready to teleport away instantly should danger escalate.
For Asahi, the only real limitations were his chakra reserves — and his lack of experience remained the sole barrier to greater strength.
This war was the perfect crucible to hone his skills.
Having mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, Asahi's life was protected to an extent no ordinary ninja could hope for. He fought without hesitation, gaining valuable combat experience with every encounter.
As Asahi and Minato returned to the battlefield, a swift figure darted through the sky en route from Iwagakure to the front lines.
Tens of thousands of Iwagakure ninjas had their retreat cut off by Konoha forces. Without reinforcements, their fate was sealed — surrounded and annihilated.
When news reached Iwagakure that Asahi and Minato blocked a 5,000-strong reinforcement, the village's leader, Onoki, was stunned and deeply troubled.
The reinforcements sent were devoid of Jōnin, and with the Kannabi Bridge likely destroyed by Konoha's forces, Onoki realized he must take action himself.
For the lives of his tens of thousands of Iwa ninjas, Onoki launched himself into the fray without hesitation, soaring towards the frontline at full speed.
*****
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